By The Weekly Vision
A list of MPs who were conspicuously missing in parliament during the voting on the crucial Finance Bill has emerged amid claims that they had received bribes from State House. President William Ruto, however, in a quick rejoinder has dismissed the allegations that he bribed Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance MPs to pass his 2023 financial bill by staying away. But a section of the MPs who either voted Yes or were absent from the House has blamed Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi for the devastating defeat by Kenya Kwanza.
One MP who was not in the house to cast his vote claimed that the problem with Azimio is that some few members want to sacrifice their colleagues to show Baba how loyal they are to him but in reality, they are only after their interests. Mr Wandai has been blamed for accepting that the house takes the vote yet he had not arranged members, many loyal members were caught off guard while some were out of the country.
It is imperative to note that almost all of the ODM MPS who were conspicuously missing in parliament had at one time indicated signals that they were ready to work with President Ruto however, due to fear of political ramifications; they have not declared their support for Ruto publicly. The absence of Butere MP Tindi Mwale who was elected on an ODM ticket together with his Butula counterpart Joseph Oyula also of ODM has raised eyebrows. The two have been missing in several Azimio functions and speculations have been rife that they could abandon Raila Odinga and ODM to join Kenya Kwanza.
Dadaab MP Farah Maalim who was elected on the Wiper Democratic Movement ticket under Azimio is said to have very little time for Raila Odinga whom he accused of fielding an ODM candidate against him in the last elections. Maalim has been telling those who care to listen that he will not forgive Mr Odinga. Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka had tried in vain to convince Mr Odinga to withdraw the ODM candidate and back Maalim but he could not listen to him. It is against such bitterness that Maalim has never been attending Azimio functions hence his absence from the House which was to the advantage of Kenya Kwanza.
The absence of Embakasi East MP Babu Owino of the ODM party has continued to draw mixed reactions both from ODM supporters and Azimio top brass. He however claimed that he was away attending matters regarding his court case and had communicated the same to Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi. Sources however say that Owino tactically avoided voting against the Government following an ongoing case with DJ Evolve. He fears rubbing the government on the wrong side.
Also absent during voting was Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo of ODM, Galole MP Hirbae Said of ODM, Lurambi MP Titus Khamala of ODM and Matungu MP Peter Nabulindo of ODM. Two other MPS elected on the Wiper ticket Matungulu MP Stephen Mule Mutinda and Mavoko MP King’ola Patrick Makau were also conspicuously missing. It has been whispered that the two could be on their way to declaring support for President Ruto. Their absence was to the advantage of Kenya Kwanza. The absence of Mumias East MP Peter Salaysa, elected on Azimio’s ticket raised eyebrows as well. It has however been discovered that he was out of the country on an official parliamentary trip to Morocco.
It is also worth noting that two of Raila Odinga’s allies Bensouda Atieno who is the Homa Bay Women Rep and Eve Bara the MP for Kabondo Kasipul were also absent from the house. It has raised issues regarding their loyalty to Baba. Another close Raila ally noticeably missing is Makadara MP George Aladwa and Awendo MP Walter Owino, Rongo MP Paul Abuor as well as Mark Nyamita of Ururi.
